OLDHAM captain Clint Hill will follow former defensive partner Fitz Hall through the Boundary Park exit door having agreed a deal with first division Stoke City.

The Potters have snapped up the 24-year-old for an undisclosed six figure sum and the deal will go ahead this week subject to his passing a medical. Announcing the capture of the former Tranmere player on a three-year-deal, City director of football John Rudge told the club's official website: "Clint is a player we have been interested in for some time. He was very highly-rated at Tranmere and tipped for a career in the Premiership.

Star sale

"Although he is still young he has the experience of plenty of league games behind him. "We were looking for his type of player after releasing Sergei Shtaniuk to return to Russia and in Clint we think we have an ideal replacement." Though necessary to help the club out of its financial plight, the sale will put further strain on manager Iain Dowie, who is seeing a side that reached the playoffs dismantled at an alarming pace. Hall completed a move to Southampton over the weekend, Chris Armstrong, Wayne Andrew and Tony Carss have already left and there are likely to be further departures before the season starts. Having seen their club brought back from the brink of extinction, Latics fans are now having to watch the club sell off its star players and there must be concerns as to what sort of a side they'll be able to put out next season. Will Oldham be able to field a competitive team next season? Have your say.